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In Glacier National Park during 1997, most of 13 roadside habituated black bears learned to leave the roadside when approached by vehicles, yet remained in the area and used the roadsides when people weren't around!! Subsequently, the Park had few black bear troubles in the campgrounds near areas that the team had worked. In other areas of the Park there were many bear problems, suggesting that the Program's work had a lasting effect throughout the summer after only 4 weeks of work!
During 1998, WRBI efforts were focused on Montana, including Glacier National Park, the Flathead National Forest, the Bob Marshall Wilderness and adjoining State and private lands. WRBI shepherding efforts were expanded to include a focus on reducing overall bear problems in specific areas through intense public education on prevention of problems in these areas. During 1998, Montana bears experienced a record scarcity of bear foods, forcing bears to travel widely in search of nourishment. This led to increased human-bear conflicts. The team worked with 29 grizzly bears and 39 black bears, and despite poor food availability the efforts successfully led to the preservation of 14 grizzly bears that otherwise would have been removed from the ecosystem. A milestone was reached when WRBI successfully shepherded multiple adult female grizzly bears with young out of developed areas using teams of dogs on leash.
During 1999, WRBI expanded its efforts into Canada and continued with work in NW Montana and Glacier National Park. In Canada, the team worked on Provincial and private lands in SW Alberta and in several Canadian Parks including Banff, Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks. The team worked with a total of 39 individual bears, of these 20 were grizzly bears and 19 were black bears.
In Canada, more than 30 Park and Provincial wardens and conservation officers were introduced to the bear shepherding methodology and participated in working with WRBI teams to resolve conflict situations. Many agency and public education programs were given. Subsequently WRBI has been asked to return to Alberta and over the next few years form a Canadian bear shepherding team for the Province. In turn, the Parks have adopted WRBI's bear management recommendations and methods and will be implementing them during 2000 to reduce future bear conflicts.
In Montana, the team continued to work with bear management specialists to resolve ongoing conflict situations. Shepherding of female grizzly bears from highly developed and populated areas was successfully continued. Efforts were focused on a new area with high numbers of bear-human conflicts. The team worked directly with the public on-site to prevent problems on private land. Over 200 area residents were personally contacted to gain support in making attractants unavailable to bears. Other areas that the team had worked with during the past 2 years experienced little to no bear problems!
V. NEED FOR FUNDING
Following four successful seasons of work, WRBI is seeking sustained funding from private and agency sources to permanently establish and expand the Program in Montana and to other areas of North America. New funding partners have joined the Program each year. The list has consistently grown and most partners have remained loyal supporters after the first year (see Support Materials). Adequate funding is required to hire and train qualified permanent staff that can plan and manage the growth and direction of the Institute, conduct an efficient and professional field program, and allow for the daily care, breeding and training of the KBDs.
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